The buzz is definitely in the air for the regatta as this will be the first-ever World Rowing event on African Water! South Africa won the right to host the event in 2020, this is such a proud moment as South Africa brings yet another global sporting event to Africa.
To note, South Africa has hosted huge sporting events, such as the Netball World Cup, Indoor Hockey World Cup, World Rugby U20 Championship, and the World Table Tennis Championships.
There are expected to be four hundred races, with heats set off every three minutes. There will be nine hundred competitors, with visitors from forty countries, along with over fifty international as well as national officials.
Rowers include Ramon Di Clemente, who won the country’s first Olympic and world championship rowing medals with Don Cech in the early 2000s. Other rowers include London 2012 lightweight men’s four gold medallists Swize Ndlovu, James Thompson, and John Smith.
The World Rowing Masters Regatta involves rowers from 27 years of age and older, among them are the top rowers from Soweto, Rotha Mampuru, Theo Mogane, and Coach Jacob Phela.
“We have eleven masters in total, but only six will be able to come and race at the Masters Regatta. Ever since they heard about the Masters coming to South Africa, they (rowers) have gone out and brought their friends back into rowing. All in all, their spirits are high, and everyone is so excited for the event, not only in the suburbs but the townships as well,” says Coach Jacob.
Coach Jacob’s love for rowing goes back to the 1960s. His uncle, Alfred Phela was also heavily involved in rowing. Coach Jacob proudly told Project CBNews that his uncle was the first black man to row and he still has the newspapers of the big news. Rowing runs in the family as coach Jacob continues the legacy.
“At first, I was not interested because I was scared of water, I was just a boy from a rural area. However, I got over my fear, jumped in the boat, sat and that is how I got involved and that is why I am here now. I studied rowing in 2002 and sports management, as well as the Para-Rowing course,” he recalls.
He was involved in a car accident and hurt his leg. However, he didn’t let that stop him and now he also coaches people with disabilities. He took over the Soweto Rowing Club in 2008, and before long, Rowing South Africa and Gauteng Rowing Association assisted them with boats.
Theo Mogane started rowing in 2006, while he was still in high school. He had a knack for swimming, and coach Jacob saw his potential and decided to take him on the team.
“To tell you the truth, I never thought that I would ever get a chance to be part of the World Rowing Masters Regatta, or rowing again in general due to personal issues. When you grow, you get a family and you have to take care of them, you are now finished with school and have to face reality. Coach Jacob convinced to get back into rowing, and I am still fit. Now here I am!” Theo says.
Rotha encourages young people to just go for it. To chase their dreams and aim not only for the stars but beyond that, into their wildest dreams.
“Don’t overthink it, don’t let the fear of going into the water and all these superstitions stop you. There are a lot of opportunities that rowing comes with, look for a club near you,” he states.
Rotha wants to pursue rowing for as long as long as he can, just like South Africa’s oldest Master Rower, John Price. At the age of 93, the Pretoria-based rower plans to race the single scull and the double with his daughter, Harriet Walker.